MOORHEAD, Minn. – Carleton College senior Alison Smyth (Billings, Mont./Billings West) capped the 2012 MIAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships with the victory in the 5,000-meter run, completing the “distance double” as she was also first to the line in the 10,000-meter run on Friday. The Knights finished fifth in the team competition after winning a total of three events during the meet.

Smyth’s winning time of 17:44.94 was eight seconds faster than runner-up, teammate, and three-time defending champion Simone Childs-Walker (Sr./Seattle, Wash./Lakeside). This marked the seventh consecutive year that the winner of the 10,000-meter run completed the “distance double” with a 5K victory on Saturday. Carleton also got points in the team competition from Taylor Ffitch (Sr./Portland, Ore./St. Mary's Academy), who placed seventh at 18:43.16.

Ellie Wilson (Fy./Roseville, Minn./Roseville) earned All-MIAC distinction with her third-place finish in the 400-meter dash. Her time of 58.34 was tops among rookies in a youth-filled championship final. Kaitlin Randolph (Sr./Drummond, Wis./Drummond) added an All-MIAC showing in the 800-meter run as she crossed the line at 2:17.15, good for third place.

Avery Johnson (Fy./Portland, Ore./Oregon Episcopal) was Carleton’s lone scorer in the field events on day two, though every thrower had a PR in at least one event. She earned All-MIAC Honorable Mention with a fourth-place finish in the javelin. Her top throw came on her final attempt of the prelims and measured 35.60 meters (116 feet, 9 inches), a new personal record.

Carleton completed the two-day meet with a seventh-place result in the 4x400-meter relay for its final two points of the team competition. "It was a fabulous meet," said head coach Donna Ricks, "and a terrific way to end the year."

The University of St. Thomas won its 28th consecutive team title, accumulating 172.5 points. Host school Concordia College was next at 120.5 points, followed by Gustavus Adolphus (99.0), Saint Benedict (91.0), and Carleton (85.0).

Select members of the team will compete at the NCAA Qualifier hosted by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on Thursday, May 17. The NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be held May 24-26 in Claremont, Calif.